Abstract: A tong assembly having a powered tong mounted over a backup tong is supported at its rear by a post with torque measuring means. The powered tong is supported at its front, near its throat, by one or more struts that extend downwardly to the backup tong. Such strut (s) provide support for the powered tong when the assembly is placed on a support surface for storage. The struts each have a joint with a retracted condition in which the joint is rigid when the tong is placed on a support surface, and an extended condition in which the joint allows a degree of lateral displacement when the tong assembly is applying torque to a pipe string. This maximizes the amount of torque passing through the rearward post, and therefore ensures a more accurate sensing of applied torque by the torque-measuring device.

Abstract: A single member tubular baseball or softball bat of unitary construction comprised of an elongated handle portion and a striking or barrel portion wherein the barrel portion has internal and external cylindrical layers separated by one or more separation barriers, which are not bonded to said layers, located internally within the barrel thickness, and being in intimate contact with these layers. This results in equivalent or higher performing baseball bats than the prior art, as measured by hitting distance, and more consistent performance. The bats are also less costly to manufacture than prior art double walled bats.

Abstract: A capo device for a stringed musical instrument having a series of strings extending along a fretboard with spaced frets, in which each string passes through an aperture in a capo element which is slidable on the string, each element being such that when held against the fretboard it stops the string on which it is mounted at the adjacent fret. The elements have horse-shoe type magnets which interact with a ferromagnetic fretboard to hold each element against the fretboard at one of a number of selected positions while allowing the element to be moved to a stored position when not in use. The stored position is provided between a string nut and a string guide which contacts the strings between the nut and tuning pegs for the strings, the elements being movable over the nut into the stored position. The fretboard preferably has no magnets.

Abstract: A moving fiber optical switch of the type having two opposed supports carrying optical fibers with a gap between the fiber ends, with at least one of the supports being flexibly mounted for pivotal movement relative to the other support, and in which: (1) an actuator means, which provides pivotal movement of one or both supports between two orientations corresponding to first and second relative positions of the fiber supports, is connected to a connecting member or housing by means of a flexure; (2) the switch has means for adjusting the length of the gap between the fiber ends; and (3) the switch has means for adjusting the alignment of the optical fiber ends in a direction perpendicular to the movement provided by the pivotal movement of the flexibly mounted support or supports.

Abstract: A blow-back operating automatic firearm has a sliding mass carried with its bolt carrier assembly to increase the dwell time of the bolt at the breech when the bolt is in battery position for firing. The sliding mass reduces the tendency of the bolt to bounce-off the head end of the seated cartridge, thereby reducing the risk that a misfiring will occur.

Abstract: A tool holster resiliently engages with a tool upon its insertion with the holster. Positive retention is obtained by rotating a threaded shaft to advance a cam to rotate levers to engage the tool. The lever arms are split to allow a degree of misalignment. Springs bias the arms towards engagement of the tool. This provides an initial resilient entrapment of the tool. Advancement of the threaded shaft causes the cam to close-up the misalignment in the lever arm portions until your removable retention of the total is cheap, a “hard dock”. This final positive retention may contain a small amount of sprung resilience to allow for some overload protection of the mechanism and tool due to an external disturbance (example robot runaway) before rigid retention is engaged.

Abstract: This invention relates to a portable, battery-operated ion generator featuring an electronic high voltage system which uses extremely low battery power. The ion generator can be made in the form of a pendant using a standard 9-volt alkaline battery, which can last for several months of continuous operation. The ion generator can also serve as a dust collector for air purification. In particular, the dust collecting electrode is removable for ease of cleaning.

Abstract: An electronic circuit construction system uses plastic perforated connectors with mounting posts that are inserted directly onto a pictorial diagram of an electronic circuit. An underlying foam base anchors the posts in place. Components and hook-up wire depicted on the diagram are then installed in place on the connectors to complete the electrical circuit.

Abstract: A ceiling support system for a suspended ceiling is provided that includes resilient clamps for attachment to the underside surface of a structural ceiling and inter-engaging ceiling runners that are shaped to be fitted into and be grasped by such clamps. The engagement edge of the runner is shaped to allow the runner to maintain multiple stable positions: a normal, ceiling panel supporting orientation, and a canted orientation for installation of ceiling panels. Runners may be joined end to end with an engagement piece. Cross-runners may be joined to runners with an engagement piece interfitted with a connector plate mounted transversely in the web of a runner.

Abstract: A chain for suspending an article, while concealing electrical conductors leading to the article, comprises a series of interlocking links, each link having a tubular portion through which a conductor can pass. Each link has an inlet aperture and an outlet aperture for the conductors, these apertures being located at opposite ends of the link, and both apertures being on the inside of the link. An outlet aperture at the lower end of an upper link underlies and registers with an inlet aperture at the upper end of the next lower link, so that a conductor can pass upwardly out of the outlet aperture of each upper link and into the inlet aperture of the next lower link without being exposed to view, the conductor then passing through the tubular portion of said next lower link to its outlet aperture and thence into a further lower link.

Abstract: A dolly for moving articles including lateral filing cabinets, comprising a support surface for one end portion of such a cabinet, and upstanding members partially surrounding the support surface for locating the cabinet in position. The upstanding members include an upstanding end member for locating one end of a cabinet and side members for locating sides of the cabinet, the dolly having an open end opposite the end member which allows the dolly to be slid underneath the cabinet when tilted. Side wheels are mounted on fixed axles outside of the support surface adjacent the open end, and a caster wheel is mounted by a bracket extending outside of, and supported by, the end member. The dolly can be used by one operator to move a fully loaded lateral filing cabinet without tilting the cabinet to such an extent to cause damage.

Abstract: This invention provides a novel means for creating a histogram for use in minimizing response time and resource consumption when optimizing a query in a database, and other like structures, the histogram being created by placing ordered elements into specific range until the next element to be considered for inclusion in the range is a predetermined distance from the (generalized) mean value associated with the elements within the range, whereupon that next element is placed in the following range. Similarly, the following ranges are closed when the next element to be considered for inclusion in the range is greater than a predetermined distance from the (generalized) mean value associated with the elements in that range, whereupon that next element is placed in the following range. For each range, the location and size of the range is recorded with, for example, the mean value, the slope or other attribute characterizing one or more elements in the range.

Abstract: An electric field sensor employs a capacitive pick-up electrode in a voltage divider network connected to a body emanating an electric field. The system is relatively insensitive to variations in the separation gap between electrode and body, reducing sensor motion artifacts in the output signal and stabilizing its low frequency response. The pick-up electrode may be positioned at a “stand off” location, spaced from intimate contact with the surface of the body. This is equivalent to providing low level capacitive values for the capacitive coupling between the pick-up electrode and the body whose electric field is to be monitored. Or a series limiting capacitor may be provided in the input stage. Human body-generated electrical signals may be acquired without use of conductive gels and suction-based electrodes, without direct electrical contact to the body, and even through thin layers of clothing.

Abstract: A power tong or back-up tong has a jaw assembly that is advanced into engagement with a pipe through a cam follower that contacts the camming surface on the inside circumference of a ring gear, the cam follower being in the form of a series of roller elements arranged as a circulating bearing. In a preferred form, the roller elements are cylindrical roller bearings and the jaw assembly is mounted for sliding advancement towards the pipe to be engaged.

Abstract: A cartridge feed tray for belt ammunition is modified to receive shorter ammunition and exclude ammunition of standard length by inclusion of an insert positioned along the forward containment wall of the tray. The insert carries a feed lip that fits through a loading port orifice in the feed tray to direct shorter ammunition downwardly as it is being advanced towards the weapon breach for loading.

Abstract: A raised surface sign with a Braille portion (8) has a reference notch (13) or elevation along its outside border to serve as a Braille locator. The visual presence of the notch or elevation is masked by an underlying colored layer (12) that spans the Braille locator and is of the same color as adjacent areas of the sign.

Abstract: A tactile transducer is able to provide a tactile display or serve as a tactile input sensor. Paired contactors having contactor tips separated by a gap are connected to transducer means (an actuator or sensor). Variations in the gap distance can create a tactile experience through skin stretch, or provide tactile input in sensor mode.

Abstract: A refuse collection vehicle is provided with a dual chute system for receiving sorted refuse from curbside containers that have one or two compartments. A powered lifting system elevates the curbside container, dumping sorted refuse into the dual chute system. A divided diverter plate with two panel portions present within the vehicle chute allows an operator to direct refuse into selected, segregated storage compartments within the refuse vehicle. In this manner, presorted refuse from the curbside container may be collected without any intermingling of such presorted refuse. The diverter plate has one driven portion and one free swinging portion. These portions may be joined by a temporary link to allow the free swinging panel portion to be positioned by the driven panel portion.

Abstract: A jaw assembly for a power tong or back-up tong is provided with a jaw die plate and die seating surface that are shaped to permit radial insertion of the die plate onto its seating surface. Both vertical and horizontally aligned splines, or spline segments are present on the seating surface. Grooves between the protrusions on the mating surface of the die plate interfit between the splines and/or spline segments to stabilize the die plate and to absorb both rotational torque forces and vertical shearing forces without disengagement from its seating surface.